Improvement in carpet-stretchers



J. H. LUCAS. Carpet-Stretcher.

Patented' April 30,1878.

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JOHN H. LUCAS, OF HOBNELLSVILLE, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN CARPET-STRETCHERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 203,055, dated April 30, 1878; application filed April 8, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. LUCAS, of Hornellsville, in the county of Steuben and State of New York, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Carpet-Stretchers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and iigures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawing is a representation ot a side elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 is a broken section of the arms, showing the pawls engaging with the ratchet. Fig. 3 is a similar view, with the lever thrown back to disengage the pawls from the ratchet; and Fig. 4 is a view showing the manner of connecting the foot to the arm of the stretcher.

This invention has relation to devices for stretching carpets, and has for its object to produce a stretcher simple in its parts, and one that may be readily operated and extended to any desired length, the construction and arrangement of the several parts being hereinafter described, and subsequently pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a central bar, to which are connected, by bands a b, extension-arms B C. The bands a are bent around the central bar A, and the ends thereof secured by screws or other suitable means to the arms B O, while the bands b are bent in a similar manner and around the arms B C, their ends being secured to the central bar A. By this construction avery irm and rigid connection is made between the bars, and rendering them much stronger and less liable to become disconnected or injured by the pressure brought to bear upon the upper arm.

To the lower end of the arm C is pivoted a foot, D, having suitable claws c. The foot D is formed with a concavity, d, to correspond in form to the convexity e upon the end of the arm C. The foot also has a recess for the reception of a tongue, f, upon the end of the arm, by which the foot is pivoted to the arm, and allowed suflicient play to either side thereof, the sides of the convex'ity e forming bearing or stops for the foot.

The arm C has upon its upper face ratchetteeth g, and the central bar A has pivoted thereto a lever, E, said lever carrying pivoted pawls F G. The pawl G has upon one of its ends a hook or shoulder, t', which engages with the ratchet-teeth g and forces the extensionarm C, while the pawl F holds the arm the distance drawn by the pawl G, equal to the length of one of the ratchet-teeth. The extension hof the pawl G strikes the under side of the pawl Fwhen the lever is thrown back in the position as illustrated in Fig. 3, which raises the pawl F and disconnects it from the ratchetteeth; and by pressing on the handle the pawl B comes again in contact with the extension h, bearing upon it, which throws up the opposite end of the pawl, having the shoulder 1'., and disconnecting it from the ratchet-teeth upon the arm C and by bringing the lever E in an opposite direction the shoulder t' again engages with the ratchet-teeth, and the arm C forced along the distance of the length of one tooth.

A rubber tip may be secured to the outer end of the arm B, or some soft iieXible material, to prevent the end of the arm from, injuring the walls.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. The extension-arms B C, the latter having ratchet-teeth g, in combination with the bar A, lever E, carrying pawl F, and the pawl G, with shoulder i and extension h, constructed to operate substantially as set forth.

2. The extension-arm C, formed with convexity e and tongue f, in combination with the pivoted foot I), substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. LUCAS.

Witnesses W. J. WILSON, R. W. SMITH. 

